Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that have common features including intraocular pressure that is too high for the health of the eye, damage to the optic nerve, and visual field loss.

• What are the different types of glaucoma?
• Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
• Angle Closure Glaucoma
• Secondary Glaucoma
• Normal Tension Glaucoma
• Pigmentary Glaucoma
• Cataract induced Glaucoma

Who is at risk for glaucoma?

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma.  Glaucoma can occur in people of all ages, from children to older adults, however, certain groups are at higher risk than others.

Those at high risk include:

• African-Americans � leading cause of blindness is glaucoma
• People Over 60 � are 6 times more likely to get glaucoma than those younger
• Hereditary � immediate family members with glaucoma put you at a higher risk
• Asian-Americans � are not a particularly high-risk group, however, studies show there is some risk for angle closure glaucoma
• Steroid users � Journal of AMA reported increase in glaucoma by users of steroid inhalers for asthma
• Eye Injury � can result in glaucoma immediately after injury or years later.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Early detection is the key to protecting your vision from glaucoma damage.  Drs. Bohn & Joseph diagnose glaucoma by checking the intraocular pressure, the shape and color of the optic nerve, the complete field of vision, and angle where the iris meets the cornea.

Diagnostic tests used are:

• Tonometry to measure the inner pressure of the eye.
• Ophthalmoscopy to examine the inside of the eye, especially the optic nerve
• Visual Field (Perimetry) to provide information on your peripheral(side) vision.
• Gonioscopy to evaluate where the iris meets the cornea.
• GDx Laser Scanning to measure the nerve fiber layer.
• Photography of the optic nerves to document nerve status or damage.

Your physician will determine when and how often these tests will need to be performed on you.

New technology in diagnosing glaucoma:

Drs. Bohn and Joseph are using a new laser instrument called GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer to measure the nerve fiber layer.  This test has been found to be a more precise and accurate test than older technologies to detect early glaucoma damage.  Although there is no cure for glaucoma, it can often be successfully controlled if diagnosed early.  With the GDx Drs. Bohn & Joseph can assess whether glaucomatous damage has occurred and determine appropriate treatment as early as possible.

We encourage you to learn more by contacting:

Glaucoma Research Foundation

200 Pine Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: 800-826-6693
Fax 415-986-3162
e-mail: [email protected]

Glaucoma Foundation

116 John Street, Suite 1605
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 800-452-8266
e-mail: [email protected]